Top 10 live music events in the North this April

Despite spring officially arriving, 'It's grim up north' probably rings true if you've flicked on the weather lately. However, a factor The KLF didn't take into account is the wealth of live music plastering the region's venue posters in April.

Arrowing towards festival season, artists are often found casting a net of new material and the live circuit gets first look in. Teetering on that thought, we've drafted a ten song landscape of what the north has to give in April. 

Primal Scream at Albert Hall, Manchester - Saturday 2nd April

Touring their new album Chaosmosis, Bobby Gillespie and co. are back on the scene with fresh impetus and there's no better venue to witness their slinky electro resurgence than Manchester's encompassing Albert Hall.

The Pharcyde at Mantra Warehouse, Manchester - Saturday 2nd April 

Performing Labcabincalifornia in full to celebrate the albums 20th anniversary, Seminal rap collective The Pharcyde re-imagine hip hop's golden era in Manchester. 

The Last Shadow Puppets at Sheffield City Hall - Sunday 3rd April

Alex Turner's traded Steel City for LA these days, but that doesn't mean those mad Yorkshire-folk have lost any love for their totem puma. Performing new album Everything You've Come To Expect, Sheffield's in for a blockbuster and they know it.  

Akua Naru at HiFi, Leeds - Friday 8th April

Enshrined for her merging of hip hop beats, socially informed vocals and jazz-soul elements, Akua Naru is a sought-after performer. Enhanced by her travelling six-piece DIGFLO band, this is one for you musical purists. 

Natasha Watts at Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle - Saturday 9th April

Launching her new album 2nd Time Around, Soulful diva Natasha Watts merges dance floor groovers and stripped down slow jams to give Hoochie Coochie an exclusive taste of the record's juice. 

Animal Collective at Manchester Academy 2 - Wednesday 13th April

Taking experimental pop to its outlandish extremes, Animal Collective pitch up in Manchester with their latest album Painting With. Only in a live setting can you realise the idiosyncrasies that make their mind-melting sound-scapes tick. 

Gang Starr Foundation at Constellations in Liverpool - Thursday 14th April

How often is it you see three icon of East Cost hip hop knuckle bumping their way to Liverpool? Jeru The Damaja, Big Shug and Afu Ra fly the flag of Guru and DJ Premier's ground-breaking Gang Starr Foundation on the Baltic Triangle. 

Steve Mason at Belgrave Music Hall, Monday 25th April

More commonly known for his role in The Beta Band, Steve Mason released a new album Meet The Humans this year to wide acclaim. Exploring a plethora of themes, the breezy record swings from pop to folk to dance. 

Noel Gallagher at Liverpool Echo Arena - Monday 25th April

You cannot ignore Noel Gallagher rolling into town, even if it is down the M62 in Liverpool. Supported by Super Furry Animal's, The High Flying Bird's arrive on a hot streak after their world tour; Just don't bring along your bubble machine, as one fan recently found out in Melbourne.

Hiatus Kaiyote in O2 Ritz, Manchester - Wednesday 27th April

Self-professed distributors of Multi-Dimensional, Polyrhythmic Gangster Shit, future soul quartet Hiatus Kaiyote orchestrate one of the most mesmerising live experiences with genre bending soundscapes that will leave you scratching your awe-inspired head.

Listen to our Glastonbury 2016 Spotify playlist